Initiatives like this can play a part in sustaining the counter-insurgency campaign into the future, and will represent an enduring and meaningful extension of the British and ISAF coalition’s commitment to facilitate enduring stability, economic stimulation and distribution of knowledge and education to the Afghan people.”– General Sir David Richards GCB CBE DSO ADC Gen

Digital Empowerment for Sustainable Economic Growth

Purpose: Enhancing Afghans’ and Pakistanis’ earning potential by increasing access to information and connectivity with the global market place.

Timeline: 3 month pilot in Afghanistan in 2013.

Beneficiaries: 26 students were equipped with tablets and a total of 90 individuals took part in the pilot; target 3,600-9,000 predominantly female participants in Afghanistan & Pakistan over 3 years

Goals:

To empower women in post-conflict and developing countries by providing the means to accelerate their learning, increase economic independence with the potential to boost their incomes, and connect with each other and the outside world without the need to leave their homes

To support men in post-conflict and developing countries by providing the means to accelerate their learning, increase their earnings with the potential to boost household incomes, and promote stability

Customize tablets for operation in Dari, Pashto, or Urdu as appropriate and pre-load with relevant business and literacy applications.

Provide entrepreneurs with tablet computers and training in digital literacy and e-commerce.

Measure outcomes every 3-6 months.

Results to date:

Increased economic growth in the form of businesses successfully launched and exports from the community: Pilot participants assisted in the development of the Aayenda Jewelry e-commerce retail and wholesale websites, which is maintained and updated by members of the Aayenda Jewelry Cooperative.

Improved IT access and usage by women: Half of the pilot participants were women (13/26) and 8 staff members from project partner, the Women’s Annex, were trained in creating m-learning using Ustad Mobile. The Women’s Annex plans to create Dari instruction videos for the applications on Youtube.